In her latest book, “Big Magic,” Elizabeth Gilbert, author of, among other works, “Eat, Pray, Love,” guides us into the depths of her creativity. It’s the kind of creativity that resides deep within you, sometimes elusive, and that may dissipate if not captured in the moment.
Most of the time, when an author writes a book, it’s for others, with the intention of imparting knowledge. Elizabeth Gilbert makes it clear that this book, like her others, is first and foremost for herself, and it’s a bonus if others happen to love it too.
Don’t expect to read a list of chapters that provide the rules of creativity. No, the author offers a series of stories from her life and explains how she found creativity and how she overcame her difficulties. She doesn’t seek to draw parallels in artistic fields but rather focuses on her role as an author.
I must admit that I’m disappointed in this aspect. I expected more openness from a book dedicated to creativity. Similarly, interviewing other people would have added value to this work. Personally, I didn’t get what I was expecting from this book. Certainly, it may inspire aspiring writers, but my overall feeling is one of disappointment. I believe that creativity arises from the meeting of improbabilities, which is lacking here.
However, you can easily take her advice into your artistic endeavors; many are interdisciplinary.
